Jerry Baldwin, principal New Living Word School, says the test scores reflect just how far behind the students attending through the voucher program were before transferring to his school.

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Most third-, fifth- and sixth-grade students participating in the Louisiana Scholarship Program at New Living Word fall below grade level, according to scores released recently by the state Department of Education.

In all three grades, in the four tested subjects of math, science, English and social studies, at least half of the students are performing below grade level. But the percentage of students falling behind is much higher in most subjects.

The school's poor scores put at risk an expanded participation in the scholarship program. According to DOE deputy chief of staff Nicholas ...